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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Bartender Salary

Bartenders earn a median $34,340 a year nationally. Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

U.S. median
$34,340
$16.51 per hour
Range
$20,110 – $73,770
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
756,390
across the U.S.
▲2.4%
Pay trend: The median for bartenders in the U.S. rose from $33,530 (May 2024) to $34,340 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What bartenders do

Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+5.0% (faster than average)
Openings per year
121,200

Employment of bartenders is projected to grow 5.0% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 121,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Bartender take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Bartender
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$29,772
per year · effective tax rate 13.3%
$2,481Monthly
$1,241Twice a month
$1,145Every 2 weeks
$14.31Hourly
  • Federal income tax$1,941
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,129
  • Medicare (1.45%)$498
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$29,772

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$20,110$9.67$18,171
25th percentile$27,400$13.17$24,174
Median (50th)$34,340$16.51$29,772
75th percentile$47,570$22.87$40,402
90th percentile (top earners)$73,770$35.47$60,727

Best cities for bartenders (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$58,180$48,928$44,0269,640
2New York, NY$61,220$48,661$43,23038,510
3Buffalo, NY$46,920$37,944$39,5892,890
4Virginia Beach, VA$46,700$37,832$38,6282,860
5Phoenix, AZ$46,940$38,932$37,68210,580
6Washington, DC$48,030$39,056$35,87014,560
7Portland, OR$45,590$35,652$33,8196,980
8Columbus, OH$37,000$31,674$33,1785,030
9Grand Rapids, MI$38,430$31,676$33,1532,730
10Charlotte, NC$37,390$31,240$32,0915,660
11Tampa, FL$37,460$32,279$31,9948,810
12Omaha, NE$34,630$29,309$31,8893,790
13San Jose, CA$42,270$34,914$31,6192,790
14Cincinnati, OH$34,240$29,533$30,9665,870
15Raleigh, NC$36,120$30,270$30,8383,070
16Jacksonville, FL$35,450$30,664$30,8233,570
17Cleveland, OH$33,470$28,935$30,8075,750
18Hartford, CT$37,290$31,389$30,5512,720
19Detroit, MI$36,780$30,420$30,3307,660
20Providence, RI$35,680$30,128$29,6034,510
21Baltimore, MD$37,360$30,788$29,4666,430
22Denver, CO$37,180$31,127$29,4259,430
23Philadelphia, PA$36,040$30,032$29,28414,210
24Las Vegas, NV$33,750$29,298$29,23513,730
25Orlando, FL$33,650$29,218$28,8097,920

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Bartender salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Hawaii $76,490+11.1%$58,358 $30,670 – $117,5403,540
New York $61,210+0.8%$48,654 $33,640 – $93,53043,130
Washington $55,830+15.5%$47,039 $39,380 – $90,13016,800
District of Columbia $53,920−1.8%$43,436 $36,400 – $95,5605,760
Maine $48,920+2.7%$39,367 $31,120 – $99,8503,230
Virginia $47,070+0.4%$38,108 $27,890 – $90,40013,370
Vermont $45,450−16.3%$37,610 $29,970 – $91,4002,080
Arizona $45,070+10.3%$37,476 $30,650 – $86,72014,840
New Jersey $44,020−3.6%$36,666 $32,220 – $80,48016,260
Oregon $38,900+14.5%$30,862 $31,200 – $68,98011,950
Connecticut $38,780+12.7%$32,520 $34,010 – $81,7607,680
Colorado $38,170+13.0%$31,879 $30,800 – $94,88017,000
Maryland $37,580+5.1%$30,954 $31,200 – $69,73013,020
Massachusetts $37,440+4.0%$30,611 $31,890 – $70,87019,850
New Mexico $36,980+17.9%$31,271 $25,720 – $63,5703,790
Delaware $36,840+1.2%$30,413 $31,200 – $60,4202,820
Michigan $36,780−6.9%$30,420 $25,960 – $76,09021,100
North Carolina $36,470+12.5%$30,537 $16,180 – $74,45020,070
Rhode Island $36,410+8.0%$30,687 $31,200 – $76,3203,170
California $36,220+0.9%$30,374 $34,320 – $75,13071,470
Florida $35,150+13.9%$30,423 $27,430 – $66,40055,170
Utah $32,150−5.8%$27,532 $17,640 – $75,0803,350
Illinois $31,200+7.1%$25,850 $31,200 – $46,52043,010
Ohio $30,880+3.5%$26,925 $22,990 – $72,19027,420
Alaska $30,460+2.0%$26,655 $24,880 – $61,5502,280
Nebraska $30,180+2.7%$25,900 $28,080 – $60,1407,320
Missouri $30,090+11.2%$25,880 $28,600 – $54,90014,410
West Virginia $29,630+2.1%$25,234 $19,900 – $64,2803,340
South Dakota $29,400+3.0%$25,803 $27,400 – $38,1803,930
North Dakota $29,040+2.1%$25,514 $18,850 – $57,0503,960
New Hampshire $28,800+2.5%$25,321 $17,390 – $78,2303,840
Kentucky $28,780+0.7%$24,415 $16,110 – $63,1406,870
Pennsylvania $28,420+4.9%$24,141 $17,460 – $62,83037,490
Mississippi $28,320+14.7%$24,531 $15,910 – $74,3302,770
Alabama $27,980+23.4%$23,518 $17,260 – $55,5006,560
Kansas $27,940+0.6%$23,829 $17,150 – $66,0105,430
Tennessee $27,480+21.3%$24,240 $15,970 – $52,74010,330
Nevada $27,460+6.5%$24,223 $24,960 – $47,25016,830
Idaho $27,240+19.1%$23,707 $16,850 – $61,0603,430
Minnesota $26,900+0.2%$23,142 $23,150 – $38,79024,420
Montana $26,010+13.9%$22,563 $21,940 – $32,8705,370
Arkansas $25,090−3.6%$21,506 $22,880 – $56,8303,020
Oklahoma $24,790+14.7%$21,455 $16,230 – $48,0505,860
Wisconsin $23,460+4.2%$20,621 $17,200 – $39,04029,520
Georgia $22,830−2.9%$19,848 $15,840 – $53,31014,600
Indiana $22,770−0.1%$19,719 $17,050 – $45,00012,880
Texas $22,690−18.2%$20,295 $16,200 – $65,30059,000
Wyoming $22,030+0.1%$19,752 $17,620 – $55,0702,660
Iowa $21,720−3.5%$19,323 $16,730 – $39,5209,560
Louisiana $20,850+6.3%$18,541 $15,080 – $41,60010,140
South Carolina $19,370+5.3%$17,340 $15,080 – $59,43010,680

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Waiter and Waitress$35,230No formal educational credential+2.0%
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,360No formal educational credential+4.5%
Fast Food and Counter Worker$31,200No formal educational credential+5.8%
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$33,980No formal educational credential+5.3%
Dishwasher$34,810No formal educational credential-1.0%
Food Preparation Worker$35,320No formal educational credential-3.0%
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,840No formal educational credential+5.5%
Cooks, Short Order$35,880No formal educational credential-5.2%
Cooks, Restaurant$37,390No formal educational credential+12.1%
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,450No formal educational credential+2.8%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bartender make?

The national median salary for bartenders is $34,340 a year ($16.51 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $20,110 and the top 10% earn over $73,770. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays bartenders the most?

Hawaii has the highest median pay at $76,490. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many bartenders are there in the U.S.?

About 756,390 people work as bartenders nationwide.

All 50 cities